After seeing and hearing from our own Alex Riley, as well as other writers and fans throughout the state — capped by this damning photo from the West Brunswick at Orange game on Wednesday night — it’s clear that the NCHSAA state basketball tournament needs an overhaul. This column is also running in Saturday’s edition of the StarNews. Feel free to leave comments and thoughts at the bottom. We’re all here to make this a better event for the athletes and fans.

This is the cheering section for West Brunswick in a state quarterfinal game. Unacceptable (from WBHS Trojans Twitter feed)

In its mission and vision statements, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association declares it wants to be a national model and will enrich the experience of the students who participate in athletics across the state.

Yet the format and timing for its annual basketball tournament do none of those things. The first week is a mad scramble of games criss-crossing half the state, with the second week bringing out unnecessary long drives late at night for too many of the teams involved.

With the NCHSAA at the end of its current agreement on basketball playoffs, it’s time for a logical change to truly benefit athletes, fans and administrators involved.

1. Change the format

With brackets being released (and then re-released after inevitable mistakes are made) on a Saturday afternoon, teams gets zero preparation for their opening opponents on Monday nights. It’s not fair to anyone involved and, frankly, makes for terrible basketball.

By allowing all first-round games on Wednesday and second-round games on Saturday and third-round games the following Wednesday, it builds in time for scouting and adjustment, as well as wiggle room for weather concerns – which we are seeing this week are still possible in North Carolina in late February and early March.

2. Use your connections

Teams on the top seed lines deserve home court advantage for the work they’ve put in throughout the year. However, the “regional” concept is also a great reward for advancing far enough in the tournament and giving athletes the chance to play on bigger stages. I like the concept, but the execution is flawed.

Moving games from home courts to bigger arenas for the fourth round is the correct answer to the question. And as many fans as possible should have the chance to see their team play for a shot at a title.

The NCHSAA has long touted its good relations with the University of North Carolina system. It should use those relationships and ask all public universities across the state – as well as private institutions and large high schools – to not schedule events for the second Saturday of the state playoffs in their gymnasiums. While this would take the Smith Center or UNC-Charlotte’s Halton Arena out of play during the last weekend of the college regular season, using Division II or smaller Division I arenas would be a great experience.

Once third-round matchups are complete, the NCHSAA can pick and choose locations to find middle ground for both teams involved.

Instead of just having a state championship game at 11 a.m. on a Saturday (talk about anticlimactic), give the state semifinalists a chance to truly celebrate. By playing the state semifinals and final in a Friday-Saturday or Friday-Sunday format, as well as including a third-place game, it further enhances the student experience, and lets a fan base feel like this the big moment it is.

Again, the NCHSAA can move these events around the state – I think a 4A final at Halton would be most outstanding – by using its connections. It also would alleviate the constant “Raleigh bias” that the NCHSAA fights so often. You’d still be able to play one final at the Smith Center and Reynolds Coliseum every year, appease the kids who grow up watching their favorite teams and also showcase some of the state’s other nice arenas.

Yes these changes would require the NCHSAA to have more staff in more places, and increase its outreach for volunteers across the state. If done correctly, however, I believe a grand majority of high school administrators and coaches would get their folks in line to help.

In order to be a national model and enrich that many experiences, after all, you can’t do everything on your own.

My Ideas…
Since winner’s advance….
Week one…
Tuesday
Thursday
Saturday Games
Week Two-Regionals
Thursday
Saturday Games
At State University Gymnasiums Regiomnally based on Those the Region. We have 16 State Supported Universities which shouls be the Regional Sit.
Finals—-1A-2A-3A-4A all at one Venue on a Saturday for Ladies and Men.
Game times-
9am game 1
Games 2-8 20 minutes after after game 1 ends.
8 games in one day and fans-recruiter’s would love it as Gym could hold up 20,000 fans in-out and easy to manage.
This would be super!

About This Blog

Hey there, I’m Alex Rileyand I’m the high school sports writer for the StarNews in Wilmington.

Before coming to North Carolina, I was covering sports for the Wyoming Tribune Eagle in Cheyenne for two-plus years. Before that, I was in Ellis County, Texas covering sports for Waxahachie Newspapers Inc. Originally I’m from Blythewood, SC and I’m a 2008 grad of the University of South Carolina.

Follow me on Twitter at @StarNewsVarsity or email me at alex.riley@starnewsonline.com.